Geranium Plant Named ‘Dueblanko’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Dueblanko’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dueblanko’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dueblanko’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium cultivars with dark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2002 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number F-01-23, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number F-20-23, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dueblanko’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dueblanko’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double white-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection have bright green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the male parent selection are not as vigorous as plants of the new Zonal Geranium.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Duebia’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,766. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Duebia’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more vigorous than         plants of ‘Duebia’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had longer internodes than         plants of ‘Duebia’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had darker green-colored         leaves than ‘Duebia’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dueblanko’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants were two months from planting when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Dueblanko’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number F-01-23, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number F-20-23, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant             habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit. Freely             basal branching habit with about three lateral branches             developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 22 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 1.8 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.             Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 7.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B.             Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: Close to 137B to 137C; venation, close to 144A.             Zonation pattern: Not observed.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 6.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong             peduncles. Flowers face upright to outward.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 20 to 25             flowers per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             Germany, flowering is continuous from spring throughout the             summer. Flowers persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 6 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 7.7 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five or six. Length:             About 2.8 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly             flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 155C; blush towards the base, close to 57A. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155C.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three. Length: About             2.4 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 155C. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 155C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2.8 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 18.3 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3.7 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About eight. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: Close to 24B to 24C. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 25A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma shape:             Parted. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style length: About             3 mm. Style color: Close to 145C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geranium. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about     5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueblanko’ as illustrated and described. 